I wasn't 100% honest in all my queries to this point. I usually go by Jim not J.D., really creative pen name right? I sign J.D. Because I am currently [doing something that draws public attention] and I didn't think it would be a good idea to put that [something] in my bio. I didn't want anyone to take me on just because of the built in fan base since I will be writing as J.D. not Jim. I didn't want anyone getting too excited about something I'm not going to even attempt to capitalize on. Also, [the activity could end very soon.] Basically I didn't want anyone taking me on based on who I am, but I do realize that it might be somewhat misleading if I don't at least mention it. What do you think - mention it in future queries, or just let it be? Thanks again.
I absolutely guarantee you that you should not mention anything like this. It's not a writing credit and it does not build platform. Let's say, just for fun, that you've qualified for the Miss America pageant. Do you mention that in your query? No you do not. It has nothing to do with your writing, and come September 14, you very well might be Miss Congeniality or even the third runner-up, but chances are you will not be Miss America. If you ARE, well, you'll be busy and you'll put your querying on hold.
A lot of things that are REALLY important to you as a person are not things you put in your query: your kids, your spouse, your dog, your cat***, your hobbies, your desire to be a writer, your hope that I will love your book, and that you are Miss Bumblebee, Arkansas and headed to Atlantic City.
***those go on your Facebook page!
12 comments:
Is it really true that Agents don't care what I am planning to have for breakfast three days from now?
Craig: wait, they don't??
*shuffles off to edit query*
How about lunch?
Why you gotta specifically call out Miss Bumblebee, AR? I was pretty proud to win that title... :(
Stephen, she didn't say you couldn't slip in some photos. She just doesn't want you to use up your word count.
It seems so simple, and yet, the ongoing questions into QOTKU show how confusing (and confused) writers can be when it comes to querying. So what if I'm Queen Cheese Souffle and have one hundred ribbons to prove it. Darn it, and that doesn't count!?!?!?
Aw man...here I thought I had the greenlight to include a picture of my Doberman wearing bunny ears in my query.
I thought we were supposed to post our adorable cat pictures here...? :)
Jennifer, I want that picture!
Finally a reason to NOT be disappointed because I lost...whatever beauty contest it was I lost. Does entering count?
I was eighteen, it was the sixties. No wonder I don't remember.
Mais oui! What would be your preferred medium? The comments don't seem to allow that level of HTML-ing, though my HTML range is narrow and I could be incorrect.
I thought that for fiction novels, a writer didn't need a platform. But the writer did need to show in the query what the story was about. Not about how it was written or why it was written, or how much the writer's mother-in-law loved it. Am I confused? On this point, I mean. I'm certainly confused on lots of other things.
My cute-puppy photo queries never do as well as my cute-cat ones. She's the overeager one. They can always tell, those wily agents.
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